The United Kingdom has secured an agreement with Turkey to provide training, support systems, and related services for Ankara’s future fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
Under the arrangement, BAE Systems will supply spare parts alongside pilot instruction and engineering training programs.
The offering also features high-end training simulators and electronic warfare capabilities to support operational effectiveness.
Moreover, the company will extend technical support for an initial three-year period, starting once the aircraft are operational.
According to Simon Barnes, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Air division, the program delivers a dependable defense solution that enhances cooperation and strengthens shared security objectives among partner nations.
Alongside this, the Royal Air Force, working with the UK government, will train 10 Turkish instructor pilots and close to 100 maintenance trainers.
This “train-the-trainer” framework is designed to help the Turkish Air Force establish self-sufficient training capabilities for both pilots and ground crews.
Typhoon Acquisition Program
The agreement follows Turkey’s October announcement to acquire 20 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from the UK in a deal estimated at nearly $11 billion.
Production is already underway, with final assembly of the aircraft scheduled at BAE Systems’ Warton site in northwest England.
The first deliveries are planned for 2030.
Turkey’s path to the Typhoon program has been shaped by earlier strategic decisions.
Ankara had initially declined to join the European consortium producing the aircraft, instead focusing on participation in the US-led F-35 Lightning II program.
However, Turkey was removed from the F-35 initiative in 2019 after procuring the Russian S-400 air defense system, a move that triggered security concerns within NATO.
Following this development, Turkey pivoted toward European fighter options, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, culminating in the present agreement.
